We're dividing 488872 by 3 
We're looking to find how many times 3 goes into 488872.

Let's proceed to step 1:
The number 3 fits into 4 1 times, leaving a remainder of 1.
Use 1 as the next digit of our solution. 
Result so far: 1.0
Subtracting 3 from 4 leaves us with 1.
Append the next digit (8) from the dividend to 1 and continue with: 18 / 3

Let's proceed to step 2:
3 goes into 18 6 times with a remainder of 0.
Write down 6 as next digit of the result. 
Result so far: 16.0
The remainder is 0 after subtracting 18 from 18.
Grab the next digit (8) from the dividend, add it to 0, then carry on: 8 / 3

On to step 3:
3 goes into 8 2 times with a remainder of 2.
Use 2 as the next digit of our solution. 
Result so far: 162.0
If we subtract 6 from 8, we get 2.
Include the next digit (8) from the dividend after 2, then repeat: 28 / 3

On to step 4:
The number 3 fits into 28 9 times, leaving a remainder of 1.
Use 9 as the next digit of our solution. 
Result so far: 1629.0
Deduct 27 from 28 and we're left with 1.
Bring next digit (7) of the dividend behind the 1 and repeat the process: 17 / 3

Advancing to step 5:
When dividing 17 by 3, we get 5 with a remainder of 2.
Write down 5 as next digit of the result. 
Result so far: 16295.0
Subtract 15 from 17 to get 2.
Grab the next digit (2) from the dividend, add it to 2, then carry on: 22 / 3

Going ahead to step 6:
The number 3 fits into 22 7 times, leaving a remainder of 1.
Use 7 as the next digit of our solution. 
Result so far: 162957.0
Subtract 21 from 22 to get 1.
Since there are no more digits in the dividend, we add a zero to the remainder making it 10, and continue the process.

Moving on to step 7:
When dividing 10 by 3, we get 3 with a remainder of 1.
Write down 3 as next digit of the result. 
Result so far: 162957.3
Subtract 9 from 10 to get 1.
Since there are no more digits in the dividend, we add a zero to the remainder making it 10, and continue the process.

Advancing to step 8:
3 goes into 10 3 times with a remainder of 1.
Put 3 as the next digit of the answer. 
Result so far: 162957.33
Subtracting 9 from 10 leaves us with 1.
Since there are no more digits in the dividend, we add a zero to the remainder making it 10, and continue the process.

The final result is 162957.33 with a remainder of 0.001.